Drugs to relieve mood disorders (depression, anxiety) are the most prescribed medications for Canadians in their 30s, 40s and 50s, according to data published by Green Shield Canada.
An American study published in 2005 showed that adults taking antidepressants had significantly more fillings and crowns than healthy controls — as much as 60% more when adjusting for other factors. And a new Finnish study showed the same relationship between being depressed and getting cavities during middle age.
The connection, of course, is that antidepressants can dry out the mouth, and feeling blue can lead to a sugar rich diet. In other words, a double whammy for needing your teeth fixed.
When there is such a high dental risk from being blue, why don’t the insurers and benefit consultants, and indeed the dental teams use this information to deliver timely preventive care to those taking antidepressants?
Because until now, employers didn’t press the case for cost containment by improving outcomes. Dental benefits were commonly an after-thought and a “silo” among the healthcare benefits package.
But that approach is changing. Dental benefit costs are now among the most rapidly growing and are being squeezed by new and very expensive drugs in the benefits package.
In short, the dental industry will have to work smarter. It needs to equate being blue with fixing teeth so that it can get ahead of the cost curve.
for more information, please visit: http://www.partnersinprevention.ca/feeling-blue-and-then-getting-cavities/.
By: Ross Perry
SOURCED: Partners In Prevention – http://www.partnersinprevention.ca/.
